Mark 12:31

31 And a second like it [is] this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is not another commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:31 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:31

And the second is like
"Unto it", as in ( Matthew 22:39 ) and so it is read here in two ancient copies of Beza's, and in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions;

[namely] this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
This commandment stands in ( Leviticus 19:18 ) and respects not an Israelite only, or one of the same religion with a man's self, or his intimate friend and acquaintance, or one that lives in the same neighbourhood; but any man whatever, to whom affection should be shown, and good should be done to him, and for him, as a man would have done to and for himself; as much as lies in his power, both in things temporal and spiritual; see the note on ( Matthew 22:39 ) .

There is none other commandment greater than these;
in the whole law, moral or ceremonial; not the sabbath, nor circumcision, nor the phylacteries, nor the fringes on the borders of the garments, nor any other.

Mark 12:31 In-Context

29 And Jesus answered him, [The] first commandment of all [is], Hear, Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord;

30 and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thine understanding, and with all thy strength. This is [the] first commandment.

31 And a second like it [is] this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is not another commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said to him, Right, teacher; thou hast spoken according to [the] truth. For he is one, and there is none other besides him;

33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the intelligence, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbour as one's self, is more than all the burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lev. 19.18.